Automatic valve.



I G.DALE N. AUTOMATIC VALVE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1910.

PatentedOct. 22, 1912.

INVENTOR WITNESSES STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAF DALEN, OF STOCKIQIOLM, SWEDEN, ASSIGNOR 'IO AMERICAN GASACCUMULATOR COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, 'A CORPORATION NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 22, 1912.

To all whom it, may concern:

Be it known that I, GUs'rAF DALIEN, a sub,

. provide. means whereby the adjustment of with the mechanism for actuating a valve in the co-eificient of expansion of such body or bodies may be effected.

Myinvention is illustratedin the accompanying drawings as applied to or combined an apparatus of the same general character as that which is illustrated in Figure 1 of.

Letters Patent of the United States granted to me November 16, 1909, No. 939,986.

Apparatus provided with means for automatically opening and closing a valve, which means depends for'its operation upon the unequal expansion .of two bodies due to the influence of light on such bodies which bodies contract in darkness, has heretofore been constructed,-the unequally expanding bodies being so connected to the "alve that the latter is actuated by their unequal expansion and consequent extension; In practice these unequally expanding bodies have consisted of metal cylinders or pipes one of which has been provided ith a light reflect ing surface while the sur ,ace of the other of the said cylinders or pipes has been light absorbing. It is known that in order to secure a proper function and ope ation of the apparatus undenvarying con itions of temperature, the metal or metals of which the said cylinders or pipesare 'made should possessexactly the same co-eflicient of. expansion.

It is well. known, however, that this is not always the case 'even when -the expanding bodies, whether cylinders or pi es, are made of the same metal. Such di erence in expansion may be due to various causes, as for instance differences in the processes of manufacture of such bodies. It has been ascertained and establishedby. experiments thatthe co-efiicient of expansion of solid bodies,

pivota pressure to which they maybe subjected, that is, the load imposed upon them. One of the objects of the present inven- MOI-111$ to utilize this characteristic and scientlfic factin the construction of apparatus in which the unequal expansion of two bodies under the influence of light and the absence of light is employed for efi e'cting the automatic 0 ening and closing ofa valve.

Other 0b]eCtS and advantages of my invention will be referred to hereinafter or will be obvious from whatis set forth.

The principle of my invention is illustrated in .the accompanying drawings but it will be understood that the same .may'beembodied in other forms of construction and that I have notundertaken herein to illustrate all of the forms which it may take.

In the drawings :Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section of a portion of the appa ratus showing a modified construction.

In the drawings :1 designates a base member having a chamber2 formed therein.

3 is a gas inlet pipe communicating with the said'chamber and 4 isa gas outlet pipe from the said. chamber.

5 designatesa' valve pivotally supported on knife. edges or points 6 secured in the valve 5. A coiled spring 9 surrounding the said post 7, and located above the said valve exerts lpressure upon the said valve to cause movement on the points 6v and remove it from the valve seat 10 when. the

polnts6.

15 designates a diaphragm which closes the chamber 2-which diaphragm is provided pressure is removed from the said valve upon the opposite side of the knife edges or with a plug 16 having a sharp point which engages the valve 5 as shown in 1 of the drawlngs.

2O designates a hollow metal cylinder having its opposite ends closed by plugs 21 and 22 which lugs are each provided with small holes 23 means of which they may be turned. Tli e lower plug 22 is provided with a pointed member 24 which rests in a-seat 26 the valve seat 10 and the upper edges or ends of the. knife'edges or points 6.

It will be understood that the construction of the means for adjusting orJarying the position of the metal cylinder 20 may bevaried as desired. Y v V v I For the purpose of indicating the amount of. adjustment or variation of the cylinder" 20 I have provided the screw 29 with a pointer 33 which is "associated, with a graduated' disk 32. The screw 29 extends through an opening inthe disk 32but is not connected to the said disk. The relation of the graduations on the disk 32 to the pitch of the screw 29 is such that the amount of adjustment of the latter may be read or ascertained from the said raduations.

For the purpose of lmposing a certain. compressive load or pressure upon the metal cylinder 20, I have provided the coiled spring 35 the. opposite ends of which have screw-threaded engagement with the plugs 5o creaslng'or diminishlng the load or pressure 21' and 22in the opposite ends of the said cylinder. If it: is desired to increase or diminish thecompressive force of the said spring upon the said cylinder, the plugs 21 and 22 or either of them may be't'urned in one directionor the other. If either of the said plugs or both of them are turned in a direction to extend or ex and thesaid-coiled spring, the compressive. orce exerted thereby is increased.- .If turned in the opposite direction, the compressive force is dimin- 'ished. In this way the co-efiicient of expansion of the said metal cylinder 20 isvaried. It is to be understood that any other suitable means which ma be found-"desirable and practicable may e emp oyed for inexerted upon the said cylinderi The" surface of the cylinder 20 is coated with any suitable substance, such as lamp black, for the purpose of making it light absorbing. The sa1d cylinder is surrounded and protected by a glass cylinder 36 which 'ase 1 and the plate 31, It

extends between the end ng a short distance below the latter.

should be noted that the late 31 is guided upon upright posts 40 th e lower ends of which are secured to the base 1 and the upper ends of which are connected tothe disk or late 32.

t different points outside of the glass;

cylinder 36, pipes or tubes 41 are provided which should be ofthe same kind of metal duced end portions' 44 which extend into sockets 45 formed in the lower endsof adjustable screws 46 which are in engagement with the plate 31.

47 designates glass tubes which surround iv the metal pipes or tubes 41, and 48 desig nates'tubes which surround the glass tubes. Thetubes 48 should be light reflecting and their' surfaces may be made light reflecting in any manner desired and which may be practicable. The purpose of the glass tubes is to prevent as faras practicable the transmission of any heat to the inner pipes or tubes. 41. It will be noted that the tubes 47 and 48' are slightly shorter than the distance between the plate 31 311dtl16 base me her 1;- also that the glass tubes fit loo ly around the pipes or tubes 41; and that the tubes 48 fit loosely around the glass tubes 47.

The coiled spring 50 which surrounds the plug 30 exerts pressure upon the plate 31 which pressure may be varied by adjusting the screws 46 such variation" of pressure being communicated through the adjusting screw 46 to the pipes or tubes 41;

.Although I have shown'means for adjusting theload or compressive force upon the metalcylinders 20 and 41, it will be understood that it is only necessary that one of the said parts '20 or 41 shall be provided with means for varying the load to which it may be subjected to thereby vary the co-eflicient of expansion so that the co-efiicient of'ex-q pansion of the two parts 20 and 41 may be the same.

55 is a glass cylinder closed by means of a cover 56. The said cylinder rests upon the base 1, is secured thereto, and incloses and protects the several parts of the apparatus previously described.

For the purpose of preventing transmission of heat from the base. 1 and the plates 31 to the chambers around'the cylinders 20 and 41, I haveprovided the heat insulating sheets 57 and 58. Y In Fi 3 I have shown a construction differing rom that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, in that the pipes or'tubes 60, correspond ing to thepi (is or tubes 41, are not surrounded by 0t er tubes or pipes but the surfaces of the pipes or tubes 60 are" light refleeting.

It will be understood that the ipesor tubes 41 and 60 may, if desired, e made solid. It is not essential to the operation of my apparatus that these parts be made hollow as shown.

mamas for use in connection with signal'light apparatus in which it is desired that flashes of light, the periods of which may vary, shall be followed by intervals of darkness. During the periods of darkness the light absorbing member 20 dissipates its heat, shortens and permits the opening of the valve 5.

Gas passes into the outlet pipe 4, is conducted to a burner (not shown) where it is ignited in any suitable manner, as by a pilot flame. The influence of the artificial light from the burner flame upon the light absorbing member 20 causes it to expand and close the valve 5 thus interrupting the flow of gas causing a period of darkness. It is obvious that this operation will be repeated during the time that the darkness lasts.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1 In combination, a working or operable member, amember which expands 'under the influence of light and contracts in the absence or partial absence of light, the said expanding and. contracting member being in operative relation to said working or operable member whereby the expansion and contraction thereof causes the actuation of said Working or operable member, and means for causing a variation of the co-efiicient of expansion of said expanding and contracting member.

2. In combination, a Working or operabl n'ember, a member which expands under the influence of light and contracts in the absence or partial absence of light, the said expanding and contracting member being in operative relation to said Working or operable member whereby the expansion and contraction thereof causes the actuation of said Working or operable member, and

means for imposing a variable load or pressure upon the said expanding'andcontracting member whereby the co-efficient of expansion of the said member is varied.

3. In combination, a working or operable member, a member which expands under the influence of light and contracts in the absence or partial absence of light, the said expanding and contracting member being in operativerelation'to said working or operable member whereby the expansion and contraction thereof causes the actuation of tion of the cylinder under the influence of light and darkness causes the actuation of the said Working or operable member, devices at the oppositeendsof the said cylinder, a coiled spring situated in the said cylinder and having its opposite ends secured to the said devices, and means for varying the tension of the said spring whereby the -co-efiicient of expansion of the said hollow cylinder is varied.

5. In combination, a working or operable member, a plurality of bodies adapted to be unequally expanded under the influence of light,-irea.ns interposed between said bodies and the working or operable member where-- by the actuation of the said working or operable member is caused by the unequal expansion of the said bodies, and means for controlling the co-efficient of expansion of the said bodies whereby such co-efficient in each of the said bodies may be made the samev 6. In combination, a working or operable member, a plurality of bodies adapted to be unequally expanded under the influence of light, one of the said bodies. being light absorbing and the other of the said bodies being protected from the light by a light reflecting surface, springs for exerting pressure upon the said bodies, means for adjusting the tension of the said springs whereby the co-efiicient of expansion of the said bodies may be controlled and equalized, and

plate supported upon the said last mentioned members, the said light absorbing member having operative connection with the said plate, and means for exerting loads or pressures upon the said several members whereby the co-eflicient of expansion of the said members may be varied and controlled.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a valve for closing a gas conduit, the said valve being located in a suitable chamber, a diaphragm for closing the said chamber, the said diaphragm being provided with a pointed member in engagement with the said valve, a light absorbing member supported upon the member upon the said diaphragm, members surrounded by light reflecting surfaces, a plate supported upon the said members, one end of the said light absorbing member being held in position by the said plate, and adjustable springs for exerting pressure upon ,the said several members whereby their co-efiicients of expansiommay be varied and controlled.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination a valve, a lightv absorbing body and a body having means for protecting it against the action of light whereby the said bodies expand unequally, the said protecting means consisting of a tube having a light reflecting surface,

an inner tube of non-heat-conducting material, both of which tubes surround the said body, and means for connecting the unequally expanding bodies to the said valve whereby the latter is operated.

10. In combination a Working or operable member, a light absorbing body and a body having means for protecting it against the action of light whereby the said bodies ex- 'pand unequally under the influence of light,

the said protecting means consisting of a tube having a light reflecting surface and which surrounds said body, and means for operatively connecting said unequally expanding bodies to said working or operable member whereby it may be actuated.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination of a valve, a member which expands under the influence of light and contracts in the absence or partial absence of light, means interposed between the said valve and the said member whereby the expansion and contraction ofthe latter causes actuation of the said valve, and means for causing a variation of the co-efiicient of'expansion of the said expanding and contracting member.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination' of a valve member, a light absorbing body and alight reflecting body having operative connection with each GUSTAF ,DALEN.

In the presence of IVALDEMAR BOMAN, T. EKEBOHM. 

